Captains slip past Whitecaps 4-2

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Lake County Sentinel

Captains slip past Whitecaps 4-2

BY TIM SHIRER

CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER

(EASTLAKE, OH) – Last night the Lake County Captains walked of 3-2 against the West Michigan Whitecaps in game one of their six game series on an error by the West Michigan second baseman Wenceel Perez with two out in the ninth inning when he dropped what should have been a game ending pop up. Wednesday’s game was close to the same as the Captains used some late inning magic to slip past the Whitecaps 4-2 and send the 1,435 fans in attendance home happy.

The Whitecaps got on the board first in the second inning off Captain’s starter, lefty Xzavion Curry. Bryant Packard led off with a single. After Curry retired Cooper Johnson on a fly ball, Perez doubled to right field and moved Packard to third base. Rey Rivera then reached on a fielder’s choice on a ball hit to Victor Nova, all runners were safe, and Packard scored giving the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead.

The Whitecaps picked up there second and final run of the game when Eric De La Rosa blasted his first home run of the season giving the Whitecaps a 2-0 lead.

The Captains needed one inning to win the game and that was the eighth inning where they scored four runs off of three Whitecaps relievers. Xavier Javier started the inning for West Michigan and faced three hitters, giving up a leadoff double to Raynel Delgado, he then issued a base on balls to Austen Wade. He finished off the appearance by giving up an RBI single to Daniel Schneemann scoring Delgado, that was the end of the short night, just 12 pitches for Javier as Whitecaps manager Bryan Pena had seen enough and called to the bullpen for lefty Jared Tobey. Tobey faired a little better, but not much as he lasted only 12 pitches also but did record an out. Tobey also allowed a double to the first batter he faced Jose Tena which drove home Wade tying the game 2-2. Tobey did strike out Will Brennan for the first out of the inning then intentionally walked Bryan Lavastida to load the bases. Joe Naranjo made the Whitecaps pay for that decision as he singled to right centerfield to drive home Schneemann and Tena and give the Captains a 4-2 lead. That marked the end of the night for Tobey. Finally, Pena brought in Angel Reyes, and he was able to retire the only two batters he faced to end the Captains rally and any further damage keeping the score at 4-2.

Captains’ manager Greg DiCenzo brought in righthander Kevin Kelly to close it out in the ninth inning, and he did just that setting down the Whitecaps quickly 1-2-3, striking out the side to preserve the win for Lake County.

Nathan Ocker picked up the win for the Captains. Ocker pitched two scoreless innings allowing one hit, one base on balls and struck out one Whitecaps batter. With the win Ocker improves to 2-0 with a 1.73 ERA. Kelly picked up the save which was his fourth of the season and lowered his ERA to 3.43. Javier took the loss for West Michigan and falls to 0-1 with a 10.43 ERA.

With the win the Captains improve to 20-18 on the season moving into second place in the High-A Central Eastern Division two games behind the first place Dayton Dragons.

The Captains and Whitecaps will play game three of the series on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The Captains will send Lefty Logan Allen to the mound. Allen is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA. Chance Kirby will be on the hill for the Whitecaps. Kirby, a righthander is 3-2 with a 3.48 ERA.